Action related nav

Advertising

Mike Dawson

Outside Linebackers Coach

Biography

Mike Dawson, a 20-year coaching veteran with experience in the NFC East, is in his first season as the Giants’ outside linebackers coach.

Dawson spent the spent the previous three seasons as a collegiate defensive line coach under Scott Frost, in 2018 at Nebraska, and the 2016-17 seasons at Central Florida.

Mike Dawson, a 20-year coaching veteran with experience in the NFC East, is in his first season as the Giants’ outside linebackers coach.

Dawson spent the spent the previous three seasons as a collegiate defensive line coach under Scott Frost, in 2018 at Nebraska, and the 2016-17 seasons at Central Florida.

In Dawson's lone season at Nebraska, the defensive line featured a pair of All-Big Ten performers in brothers Carlos and Khalil Davis. The unit helped the defense climb 27 spots in the national scoring defense rankings from the 2017 season and helped Nebraska total 25 sacks, 11 more than the Huskers recorded the previous season.

In 2017, Dawson’s unit helped UCF post the first perfect season in program history and in the history of the American Athletic Conference when Central Florida finished 13-0 as the nation's only undefeated team. The Knights ranked third in the league in scoring defense and fourth in rushing defense. Two of his three starting defensive linemen earned all-conference accolades, including Jamiyus Pittman, a member of the Outland Trophy watch list who was an All-AAC performer for the second straight season.

In Dawson’s first season at UCF in 2016, Dawson’s defensive line played a major role in Golden Knights’ ranking second nationally in red zone defense, sixth in third-down defense, ninth in tackles for loss, 17th in sacks, 18th in turnovers forced and 24th in fumbles recovered. The defense was the key to Central Florida leading the nation with a six-win improvement from the 2015 to 2016 season.

Dawson was on the Philadelphia Eagles’ coaching staff from 2013-15, the three seasons Pat Shurmur was the team’s offensive coordinator and current Giants linebackers coach Bill McGovern coached their outside linebackers. He spent one season as the defensive quality control coach and two as a defensive line assistant.

In 2013, the Eagles won the NFC East and ranked third in the NFL with 31 takeaways. The following season, Dawson helped Philadelphia rank second in the NFL in sacks (49) and fifth in opponent yards per carry (3.7).

Before joining the Eagles, Dawson was a special teams coach at Boston College from 2009-11 (when McGovern was the team’s defensive coordinator). In his first year, kicker Steve Aponavicius set school records for career points, extra points made and field-goal percentage. In his second season with the Eagles, kicker Nate Freese was 22-of-25 on field goals, and he went on to break Aponavicius’ career scoring record.

In his first full-time job at the FBS level, Dawson coached the Akron linebackers for three seasons (2006-08).

Dawson previously spent six seasons (2000-05) at the University of New Hampshire – one season coaching linebackers, one with the offensive line, and then four more as the linebackers coach, the final two when he added defensive coordinator to his duties. In his two seasons leading the defense, New Hampshire posted a 21-5 record and in 2005 the Wildcats reached the FCS quarterfinals and led the country with 45 takeaways.

Originally from Pepperell, Mass., Dawson began his coaching career as the defensive line coach in the spring of 1998 for UMass-Lowell before joining Maine as a defensive assistant for the 1998 season. After spending one season with the Bears, Dawson moved on to Pittsburgh as a graduate assistant in 1999.

As a player, Dawson was a three-year starter at linebacker and defensive end from 1995 to 1997 at UMass-Amherst. He earned his degree in sports management from UMass-Amherst in 1997.